David Atwood was born in San Francisco in 1946. David grew up in Mississippi and attended Millsaps College where he received degrees in Science and Biology. He continued his education receiving his Masters of Science in Marine Biology from University of South Florida and his PhD in Marine Biology from University of Alberta (Canada).
For the next 6 years he did laboratory research employing electron microscopes. He specialized in surface membranes at the point of fertilization in starfish and sea cucumbers. David taught biology at the graduate and undergraduate levels for 17 years in Canada, Mississippi and Alabama. He published over 35 international research papers on Echinoderm reproduction patterns.
Being an outspoken critic of American involvement in the Vietnam conflict, he did not return to the USA until 1969. Upon his return David moved to Gulf Shores, Al. to begin a new existence in the world of retail and art. Over the last 30 something years, he has ventured into concepts including retail art shops, commercial aerial photography, nude body form photography, seascape concept photography and body modification research. Body modification research has taken David into the areas of tattooing, piercing, subcutaneous implantation and branding. David and his team lead the way for body art in the south.
When the age of 58 was reached -------- David decided it was the time to relax from previous endeavors and focus upon a new personal direction. After being exposed to the art of glass, he envisioned a plan to incorporate the environmental influences derived from the seashore and the forest wilderness into an art expression. David now spends his hours divided between his two glass studios. One is located in the middle of a 100 acre compound in a remote forest region outside of Meridian, MS. The other is on the white sands beach 12 miles out of Gulf Shores, AL.
Since returning to America, he has become increasingly discouraged with the direction in which America is taking its people. Many solitude hours have led to countless numbers of inspirational works of art. David made the decision to locate the two studios in there present locations after spending many years traveling and living in Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas. He can focus on inspirational conceptual glass art forms best by "hiding away" in the seclusion offered by the remoteness of forests and beaches.